Dutchman Lars Boom (Rabobank) has won the 2011 Tour of Britain overall after winning two stages and placing second on Sunday morning's time trial.
The 2008 cyclo-cross World Champion kept out of trouble during the race's final criterium stage around Westminster, London, on Sunday afternoon to seal the win.
"It was awesome," said Boom of the Tour of Britain. "London is a very nice city. It's a lovely country, I didn't expect that. The public was awesome, a lot of cheering so it was a great week for us."
Steve Cummings (Sky) placed second overall behind Boom after a strong time trial performance in the morning. Czech NetApp rider Jan Barta finished third overall.
Mark Cavendish (HTC-Highroad) showed that his preparations ahead of this week's World Championships are on track by winning the final stage, his second of the race.
Cavendish's team-mate and stage five winner Mark Renshaw came second, with Robert Forster (United Healthcare) third.
Thomas's fourth place on the final stage netted him the overall points classification.
"We wanted to win the race and crashing on Stage Six didn't help, and with Lars [Boom] sprinting so well we were always up against it," said Thomas at the finish.
"We thought that after a fifth this morning, I moved ahead of Cavendish so we thought we may as well go for it and try and get on the podium. Fortunately we did and the lads did a great job. Swift took me to the line. I had to get fifth if Cav won and fortunately I got fourth."
Jonathan Tiernan Locke (Rapha Condor Sharp) completed the race in fifth place overall and earned himself the King of the Mountains jersey in what has been a great week for the British rider.
Belgian Pieter Ghyllebert (An Post) secured the Sprints classification.
Briton Alex Dowsett (Sky) won the morning time trial.
Results (provisional)
Tour of Britain 2011, stage 8b: London to London, 90km
1. Mark Cavendish (GB) HTC-Highroad
2. Mark Renshaw (Aus) HTC-Highroad
3. Robert Forster (Ger) United Healthcare
4. Geraint Thomas (GB) Sky all same time
5. Ben Swift (GB) Sky
6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard-Trek
7. Tobyn Horton (GB) Motorpoint
8. Andrew Fenn (GB) An Post-Sean Kelly
9. Dan Craven (Nam) Rapha Condor Sharp
10. Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen all same time
Other
39. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank at same time
Final overall classification
1. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank
2. Steve Cummings (GB) Sky at 36 secs
3. Jan Barta (Cze) NetApp at 55 secs
4. Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Leopard-trek at 57 secs
5. Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB) Rapha Condor Sharp at 1-03
6. Iker Camano (Spa) Endura at 1-07
7. Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen at 1-12
8. Joost Posthuma (Ned) Leopard-Trek at 1-13
9. Leopold Koenig (Cze) NetApp at 1-19
10. Daniel Lloyd (GB) Garmin - Cervelo at 1-25
Points classification
1. Geraint Thomas (GB) Sky
Mountains classification
1. Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GB) Rapha Condor Sharp
Sprints classification
1. Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post-Sean Kelly
Best young rider classification
1. Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen
Related links
Tour of Britain 2011: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Tour of Britain 2011: Latest news
Renshaw thanks Cavendish after Exmouth excellence
House ready to attack again despite unsuccessful breakaway attempt
Team Sky fails to capitalise on numerical advantage in Stoke
Tour of Britain stage two cancelled due to adverse weather
Gale force winds set to batter Tour of Britain bunch on Monday
Cycling stars ready for Tour of Britain
Raleigh aim for top ten in Tour of Britain
Cavendish confirmed for Tour of Britain
Sky announces Tour of Britain team
Hushovd to ride Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain returns to central London for 2011 finale
Scotland getting ready for 2011 Tour of Britain start
Leopard-Trek sign up for 2011 Tour of Britain
Final day time trial for 2011 Tour of Britain
IG Markets sponsor Tour of Britain leader's jersey
Tour of Britain set for Scotland start
Tour of Britain 2011: Stage reports
Stage 8a: Dowsett takes time trial in London
Stage seven: Bagdonas wins from break
Stage six: Booms wins in Wells to strengthen overall lead
Stage five: Renshaw and Cavendish score HTC one-two
Stage four: Hushovd takes stage in Caerphilly
Stage three: Boom wins stage in Stoke to take lead
Stage two: Stage cancelled, riders parade in Kendal
Stage one: Cavendish wins opening stage of Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain 2011: Photo galleries
By Andy Jones
Stage seven photo gallery
Stage six photo gallery
Stage five photo gallery
Stage four photo gallery
Stage three photo gallery
Stage two photo gallery
Stage one photo gallery
Tour of Britain 2011: Press conference photo gallery
Tour of Britain 2011: Riders warm up photo gallery
Tour of Britain 2011: Start list
Tour of Britain 2011: Provisional start list
Tour of Britain 2011: TV guide
Tour of Britain 2011: ITV4 TV schedule
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1